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<br />nuclei generating systems by E. Bollay Associates at Steamboat Springs, <br />Colorado during this same time period identified and resolved many of the <br />engineering system and seeding delivery problems typical of the region. The <br />results of these experiments, combined with results of other research and <br />commercial operations, confirmed the possibility that a substantial augmen- <br />tation of the Colorado River could begin within the next decade through cloud <br />seeding. <br />The main new evidence from these research activities was that only <br />20 to 40 percent of the storms were favorable for increasing precipitation by <br />seeding and that these storm situations could be identified with reasonable <br />confidence. Precipitation increases effected by seeding during favorable sit- <br />uations were on the order of 50 to 100 percent. Situations where seeding causes <br />no effect or where precipitation decreases occur could also be identified. <br />However, there were many questions concerning how realistically and <br />reliably experimental and research results cen be extrapolated to plans and <br />estimates for a full-scale operational program. Uncertainties included extra- <br />polating t~e validity of experimental increases to large areas, comparability of <br />any peculiar smaller experimental target area effects to those anticipated over <br />more complex and larger areas, comparability of the efficiency and effectiveness <br />of experimental-type seeding to operational-type seeding, and determination of <br />any downwind effects from a major seeding activity. Uncertainties over social <br />and environmental considerations often do not become fully apparent during <br />experiments. Before the Bureau of Reclamation could responsibly recommend <br />and justifiably support an operational program, with reasonable chance of its <br />being fully considered, a firm basis for answering these questions had to be <br />established. It was the goal of the Colorado River Basin Pilot Project to <br />provide this firm basis. <br />In 1968 the Bureau of Reclamation's Division of Atmospheric Water <br />Resources Management contracted with Colorado State University to design a <br />large scale wintertime orographic research cloud seeding program in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. After an extensive period of evaluation by Colorado <br />State University and the Bureau of Reclamation a portion of the San Juan Moun- <br />tains in southwestern Colorado was selected as the site for the Pilot Proj ect. <br />The Pilot Project was designed to provide a full, large-scale test of <br />seeding techniques and similar equipment used in the Climax and Wolf Creek <br /> <br />1-2 <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />"" <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />..:: <br />